B: Nick Maxwell, Ben Reid, Alan Toovey
HB: Heath Shaw, Nathan Brown, Harry O'Brien
C: Clinton Young, Dane Swan, Dayne Beams
HF: Dale Thomas, Travis Cloke, Steele Sidebottom
F: Andrew Krakouer, Quinten Lynch, Alex Fasolo
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Luke Ball
I/C: Ben Hudson, Tyson Goldsack, Jarryd Blair
Sub: Ben Johnson
Injury list
Collingwood's injury list is vast. Luke Ball, Dale Thomas and Ben Reid are all in major doubt for round one, while Alex Fasolo, Andrew Krakouer and Alan Didak have already been ruled out. The club's top two draftees, Brodie Grundy (back) and Tim Broomhead (glandular fever) are out indefinitely.
The big questions
- What effect will the club's injuries have at the start of the season? Collingwood faces a brutal start to the year and will be hoping its depth players can carry the load until all the big names are back in the side.
- Can Travis Cloke recapture his 2011 All-Australian form? Cloke was down on form and confidence in 2012, but with his contract now locked away, his focus should be back on footy. If he plays anywhere near how he played in 2011, he could be in for a huge season.
- What impact can the Magpies' recruits have this year? The Magpies added experienced quartet Clinton Young, Quinten Lynch, Jordan Russell and the recently elevated Ben Hudson to their 2013 list. It is these players who could help the Magpies take the next step this year.
Summer standout
Heath Shaw. Sporting a white headband throughout the pre-season, the Pies defender brought typical energy - encouraging teammates and goofing around at appropriate moments. But when it was time to switch on, his skills, hard running and reading of the play came to the fore.
Fantasy cash cow
Brent Macaffer (FWD, $132,600) represents great value for someone who is likely to get his chance early in the season. With a lack of cheap forward options throughout the competition, he will be a popular choice in many Fantasy teams this year. His pre-season has been very promising and the Pies have talked him up at every opportunity.
Sudden impact
With Travis Cloke as the focal point in the Pies' forward line, the stage is set for Quinten Lynch to excel in the second tall forward role. He has been one of Collingwood's strongest performers in the pre-season, and booted four goals in the team's final hit-out against Geelong. Could be vital in relieving pressure on Cloke this year.
It's crunch time for…
Alan Didak. The Pies’ veteran managed just 11 games in 2012, battling groin injuries and a lack of form. Some of the club's young forwards are challenging and with retirement beckoning, a few moments of Didak magic could carry Collingwood over the line to a flag.
Pivotal match
It doesn't come much bigger than Carlton and their round two meeting shapes as one of the games of the season. Add the Mick Malthouse factor and a tense atmosphere between the traditional rivals is guaranteed. Collingwood has a tough start to the season with games against North Melbourne (round one), Carlton and Hawthorn (round three). The Pies went a combined 0-6 against those three last year.
Collingwood will have a good year if…
… Cloke fires and Steele Sidebottom becomes 'elite'. Let's be clear, a 'good' year means a strong top four finish and a serious premiership tilt. With a star-studded midfield already in tow, it's up to Cloke to kick the team a winning score. Sidebottom is already a very good player - if he has a year like Dayne Beams had in 2012 then look out.
AFL.com.au predicted ladder finish: Second
